January 1, 2006

‘Design Values of Popular Culture’

Throughout 2006

Consultation for potential exhibition

TCDC (Thailand Creative & Design Centre)

Year-long project to identify the design values in Thai popular culture, to develop in future exhibitions. Commissioned by TCDC from Philip Cornwel-Smith and Lord Cultural Resources Ltd.



February 4, 2005

Asia Books magazine

Literary events: Very Thai book launch

River Books publishing and Asia Books, Thailand’s leading English-language publisher and distributor, welcome guests at the launch of Very Thai at Jim Thompson House.

VT AsiaBks mag 05-02004


February 1, 2005

Thailand Tatler magazine

‘Fluorescent tubes aren’t the usual décor du jour at the Jim Thompson House. But on December 20, the teak compound was bathed in neon from multi-coloured striplights dangling from trees, in the style of roadside markets. The reason was to launch the book by Philip Cornwel-Smith, ‘Very Thai: Everyday Popular Culture’. The party adopted themes from the 65 chapters exploring the unsung ephemera of home, street and sanuk.

Hence the array of fairy lights, tiny pink tissues, vendor carts, and fortune teller. The family of the publisher, MR Narisa Chakrabongse of River Books, turned the ubiquitous blue PVC pipe into flower and candle holders. Even the book retails for the ‘lucky number 9’ figure of 995 baht.
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